Solicitor Apprenticeship (Leeds)
PINSENT MASONS LLP
Leeds (LS1 5AB)
Closes on Thursday 29 January 2026
Posted on 24 November 2025
Contents
Summary
Pinsent Masons is seeking to recruit Solicitor Apprentices to join our Leeds office. This is a unique opportunity to gain practical experience working on real-life legal projects alongside experienced Solicitors, while also studying towards a fully sponsored LLB (Hons) in Legal Practice and Skills degree and completing SQE.
- Wage
-
£25,200 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Our apprenticeship salaries are subject to review on an annual basis.
- Training course
- Solicitor (level 7)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, 9.30am - 5.30pm
35 hours a week
- Start date
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Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
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6 years
- Positions available
-
1
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
As a Solicitor Apprentice, you will join a fast-paced, dynamic working environment where personal resilience and a willingness to learn are key to success. Solicitor apprentices have a unique opportunity to ‘earn while they learn’ by putting their academic learning into practice while working towards qualifying as a solicitor. The apprenticeship is fully funded, so apprentices have no university fees and earn a competitive salary for the duration of the programme.
Throughout your apprenticeship you will work on real-life legal projects alongside experienced solicitors. Apprentices can expect to:
- Be involved in client meetings
- Assist solicitors with legal matters
- Conduct legal research
- Draft correspondence and documents
- Prepare files and bundles
As you progress in your role, you will be introduced to more advanced tasks to help you build a portfolio and work towards the level 7 qualification. These tasks may involve:
- Preparing client training
- Leading client meetings
- Progressing legal matters and transactions
You will be supported by a supervisor who is an experienced solicitor, a dedicated Early Talent team, and fellow legal apprentices. In addition, you will be allocated a buddy to help you settle into both working and studying. You will join a comprehensive induction programme and receive training that combines on-the-job learning with structured sessions, ensuring you are fully equipped to succeed in your role. Furthermore, you will have access to a wide range of courses available through our Pinsent Masons Learning and Development team, enabling you to develop your skills and build a successful career.
In the first four years of your apprenticeship, you will be based in two legal teams, spending two years in each. This structure is designed to give you in-depth experience and continuity within each team, allowing you to build strong relationships and develop a deeper understanding of the legal work involved.
During the final two years, you will join the trainee solicitor cohort and undertake six-month placements in four different departments, gaining broad exposure to commercial law.
As the legal landscape and our business evolve, we may update the structure and rotation schedule of the Solicitor Apprenticeship programme. These changes help us maintain a high standard of training and ensure our apprentices are well-prepared for the future of legal practice.
Some travel within the UK and Ireland will be required during your apprenticeship. We will help you book your travel and reimburse any travel-related business expenses in line with our policy to enable you to meet the business needs and access relevant training opportunities.
Where you'll work
1 Park Row
Leeds
LS1 5AB
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
THE UNIVERSITY OF LAW LIMITED
Training course
Solicitor (level 7)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Obtain relevant facts by effective questioning and active listening.
- Find, analyse, and assess documents to extract relevant information including recognising when additional information is needed , interpreting and evaluating information obtained, recording and presenting information accurately and clearly.
- Recognise when legal research is needed and use appropriate methods and resources including identifying, finding and assessing the relevance of sources of law, interpreting, evaluating and applying research results, recording and presenting findings of research accurately and clearly.
- Develop strategies and solutions including an understanding of a client’s commercial and personal circumstances, their needs, objectives, priorities and constraints.
- Provide advice which is informed by appropriate and factual legal analysis and identifying the consequences of different options.
- Draft documents from scratch and use precedents which address all legal and factual issues, complying with all formalities and using clear, accurate and succinct language.
- Undertake effective spoken and written advocacy in court and outside of formal court hearings including: effective preparation by identifying and mastering relevant facts and legal principles, organize facts to support an argument or position, present a reasoned argument in a clear, logical, succinct persuasive way, make appropriate references to legal authority, comply with formalities, deal with witnesses appropriately, respond effectively to questions or opposing arguments, identify strengths and weaknesses from different parties’ perspectives.
- Negotiate solutions to clients’ issues including: identify all parties’ interests, objectives and limits, developing and formulating best options for meeting parties’ objectives, presenting options for compromises persuasively, responding to options presented by the other side, developing compromises between options or parties.
- Plan and manage legal cases and transactions including applying relevant processes and procedures to progress matters effectively, assessing, communicating and managing risk, bringing a transaction or case to a conclusion.
- Obtain relevant facts by effective questioning and active listening.
- Find, analyse, and assess documents to extract relevant information including recognising when additional information is needed , interpreting and evaluating information obtained, recording and presenting information accurately and clearly.
- Recognise when legal research is needed and use appropriate methods and resources including identifying, finding and assessing the relevance of sources of law, interpreting, evaluating and applying research results, recording and presenting findings of research accurately and clearly.
- Develop strategies and solutions including an understanding of a client’s commercial and personal circumstances, their needs, objectives, priorities and constraints.
- Provide advice which is informed by appropriate and factual legal analysis and identifying the consequences of different options.
- Draft documents from scratch and use precedents which address all legal and factual issues, complying with all formalities and using clear, accurate and succinct language.
- Undertake effective spoken and written advocacy in court and outside of formal court hearings including: effective preparation by identifying and mastering relevant facts and legal principles, organize facts to support an argument or position, present a reasoned argument in a clear, logical, succinct persuasive way, make appropriate references to legal authority, comply with formalities, deal with witnesses appropriately, respond effectively to questions or opposing arguments, identify strengths and weaknesses from different parties’ perspectives.
- Negotiate solutions to clients’ issues including: identify all parties’ interests, objectives and limits, developing and formulating best options for meeting parties’ objectives, presenting options for compromises persuasively, responding to options presented by the other side, developing compromises between options or parties.
- Plan and manage legal cases and transactions including applying relevant processes and procedures to progress matters effectively, assessing, communicating and managing risk, bringing a transaction or case to a conclusion.
Training schedule
Solicitor Level 7.
Solicitor Apprentices have a dedicated weekly study day studying legal foundation subjects, skills modules and preparing for a range of assessments, including the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). They spend the remaining four days per week working with colleagues in the office.
Solicitor Apprentices complete weekly tasks and receive regular feedback from their subject tutor, as well as meet with the Skills Coach to support their progress.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
A Level in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Interest in business
- Personal responsibility
- Intellectual capability
- Social adaptability
- Drive
- Positive impact
About this employer
Pinsent Masons is a global law firm with over 3,800 employees operating in over 29 offices across Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. We have a long-standing reputation for delivering high-quality legal advice rooted in a deep understanding of the sectors and geographies in which our clients operate. Our core values are Approachable, Bold and Connected and as a firm we hold these in high regard. Personally and collectively, we live them every day and our firm is a better place for it. We pride ourselves on being an innovative law firm who put people at the heart of the business. Pinsent Masons won the Most Innovative Law Firm in Europe award for the third time at the 2023 Financial Times Innovative Lawyer Awards Europe. The firm has been awarded Gold Employer status in this year’s 2025 Global Workplace Equality Index by Stonewall, recognising our continued commitment to fostering an LGBTQ+ inclusive workplace. We are proud to be a Top 75 Employer in the Social Mobility Index 2025. This recognition highlights our commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace. We’re proud to have been placed amongst RateMyApprenticeship Best 100 Employers 2024-2025.
https://www.pinsentmasons.com/careers/early-talent/england/apprenticeships (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
Our benefits include private healthcare policy, pension scheme, interest-free season ticket loan, interest-free gym membership loan, and cycle to work scheme.
After this apprenticeship
Upon successful completion of the 6-year solicitor apprenticeship and Solicitors Qualifying Examination, subject to SRA character and suitability assessment, you will become a qualified solicitor and have a chance to join our Newly Qualified (NQ) Solicitor recruitment process. Our Graduate Development team work closely with the business to identify which roles are available and share a list with Solicitor Apprentices and Trainee Solicitors in the final year of their programme. You will be able to apply for a small number of vacancies across the firm’s offices. The outcome will be based on your performance at assessment and throughout your apprenticeship. This gives you every opportunity to further your career with a leading firm in your chosen area of law.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
THE UNIVERSITY OF LAW LIMITED
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000001962.
Apply now
Closes on Thursday 29 January 2026
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